Bernie Sanders, at Town Hall, Says His Wealth Isn't Proof of the 'American Dream'

[TexasTowelie]

Shortly after he disclosed his tax returns for the last 10 years, Senator Bernie Sanders on Monday rejected the idea that his newfound millionaire status was a testament to capitalism and the “American dream.”

Appearing on Fox News in a town-hall style event, Mr. Sanders defended his wealth as the honestly earned result of a popular book that he wrote.

“If anybody thinks I should apologize for writing a best-selling book,” he said, “I’m not going to do it.”

But he did not directly answer the question, asked by an audience member, about whether he himself should pay more in taxes now that he is a member of the “1 percent,” from whom he has spent years calling for greater contributions.

Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/15/us/politics/bernie-sanders-town-hall.html

[sheshe2]

1. hmmm

But he did not directly answer the question, asked by an audience member, about whether he himself should pay more in taxes now that he is a member of the “1 percent,” from whom he has spent years calling for greater contributions.

interesting.

[mcar]

2. Hmmm, indeed

[sheshe2]

6. umhmmm

[Power 2 the People]

40. Absolutely he did. He said the top tax rate should be 52%.

How did you miss that?

[pangaia]

53. tell me... LOL

[democratisphere]

52. We already know the answer. Silence says it all.

[Me.]

61. Wait...What?

would it be redundant to say that's not socialism

[pnwmom]

3. No, but his wealth shows his hypocrisy in criticizing other Democrats who also

succeeded in improving their fortunes through hard work and talent and luck.

For example, Bill and Hillary Clinton. Like Bernie before entering the Senate, they didn't have much before Bill became President, with his job as Governor paying only $32K a year and Hillary making the salary of a prosecutor and then as a partner at a Little Rock law firm.

Afterwards, like Bernie, they were able to make significant money for themselves with books and speeches. And they were ALSO able to pour millions into a charitable foundation that is doing great work around the world.

[NastyRiffraff]

7. Exactly

I don't care if Bernie or anybody else is a millionaire. I definitely don't care about his stupid book. But he's spent decades criticizing OTHER millionaires as wall street shills immersed in corruption. Suddenly only billionaires are corrupt.

Apparently only Bernie can be a millionaire and remain "pure." Because he wrote a book?

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

27. His stupid book?! You obviously haven't read it... you should and you would

understand where we go from here.


Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[NastyRiffraff]

38. Sorry. I have a long book list

and that book isn't on it. It won't be on it. No interest. I barely have time to read the books I am interested in.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

42. Then perhaps you should save your review...calling a book "stupid" you haven't read is not smart.

Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[NastyRiffraff]

73. Wow.

You really are obsessed. Your candidate is only a man. A flawed man. Not a savior, or a god.

Yes, I know, You 'never said' that he was a savior or a god! (You only imply it, constantly)

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

74. Wow, talk about obsessed! My sayin you should 1st read Bernie's book before you call it "stupid"

means I think Bernie is a "savior"... that's some logic!! You're obviously obsessed with Bernie... and not in a good way. Maybe if you actually DID read his book, you'd begin to see things differently!!


Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[NastyRiffraff]

75. ROFL You never give up

But you have the last word. I'm done, because I'm bored.

[bigbrother05]

76. Broker's fees shouldn't be taxed as capital gains

Someone sitting around collecting fees for investing other people's money should be taxed like it's a salary, not like investments in actual businesses.

He's criticized the way great wealth has been allowed to write their own rules to keep more and more. Instead of closing loopholes or simplifying the tax code, the rich encourage arcane tweaks that often benefit only a few and starve the many.

[namahage]

15. But Bernie has a charitable organization too!

One that...uhhh...makes a lot of videos, I guess?

Oh wait. Did I say “has”? Oops.

[betsuni]

17. The words "shilling" and "pandering" come up a lot when other Democrats sell books.

And their charitable giving ignored. They are never to be trusted, a sinister motivation assumed.

Other people can hire relatives, explain that they didn't release their taxes because they're boring, claim to not know about sexual harassment in their campaign because they were a little bit busy, accuse others and their foundations of corruption without any proof, claim that they can break up the big banks and give everyone insurance without knowing how exactly, on and on, and THAT'S the person we're supposed to trust.

[yardwork]

69. And free college. Don't forget that... with no details offered.

[Blue_true]

21. Bill and Hillary left the White House broke and deep in debt do to Ken Starr.

Terry MacAuliff loaned them the money to buy their home in New York. But they wrote popular books and used their experience and insight to give speeches through a speakers bureau. They got hit for paid speeches, but BOTH were out of government and were in-demand speakers. They paid off their debt and became rich enough to launch an influential charity that has always been highly rated for use of donated money and transparency. Yet aspersions were cast on them in 2016.

[spooky3]

29. and no one has EVER been able to prove a quid pro quo. nt

[Power 2 the People]

32. Bernie never "criticized other Democrats who also succeeded in improving their fortunes

through hard work and talent and luck."

That is complete fantasy and non-factual.

Bernie's criticism in the campaign was that his opponent gave $300,000 speeches to Goldman Sachs and refused to release the transcripts of the speeches. As one of the main cheerleaders pounding the drum on DU for transparency when it comes to Bernie releasing his tax returns, I'm sure you agreed with Bernie's assessment that the American people deserved to know what was being said in those hidden speeches.

That is totally different from what you are accusing Sanders of.

[George II]

48. Oh he certainly did.

[Power 2 the People]

58. LOL...ok George.

[George II]

62. LOL...yes Power 2 the People

[Power 2 the People]

63. No proof as usual George. Just innuendo and anti-Bernie nonsense.

[George II]

64. Oh, you'd love to see me post that "proof" now, wouldn't you?

[Power 2 the People]

65. George you promised me you would be dignified and stop with the conspiracies.

Last edited Tue Apr 16, 2019, 12:14 AM - Edit history (1)

There is no "proof" or else you would have posted some random article from an anti-Bernie rag.

We are Democrats and must support Democrats. You are not helping the cause by trying to undermine Senator Sanders constantly. I know you used to support Beto O'Rourke but have moved on. That tells me that you are open to new ideas and not stuck in a rigid ideology. All I'm asking is that you stop condemning the man and just focus on policy.

Unity George.Unity.

[pnwmom]

51. I think Bernie should have gotten off his high horse and released multiple tax returns in 2016,

as he had promised, and his 2016 FEC reports. I think the American people also deserved to know more about that.

But if he had, people might have put two and two together and realized even by 2016 he had substantial assets in personal real estate that don't get counted up when they make the lists of "poorest" Senators.

Of course, as he now says, anyone can be a millionaire if they just write a best-selling book!

[Power 2 the People]

57. Much ado about nothing.

[pnwmom]

60. It's about Bernie's lack of transparency. Hopefully he'll do better from now on. n/t

[Power 2 the People]

66. We should all strive to do better.

[Cha]

4. Prickly.. "if anyone thinks I should

apologize for writing a best selling book.. I'm not going to do it.."

Hyperbole much?

[NastyRiffraff]

8. Deflection

He hates being challenged, or questioned about anything. Nobody cares about his stupid book. Actually, I don't care if he's a millionaire, only that he constantly attacked OTHER millionaires before he became one. (Or maybe while he was one? We haven't seen his taxes so we don't know.) Now only billionaires are corrupt.

[Cha]

11. Yeah, definitely Not

presidential material.

[NurseJackie]

70. I completely agree!

[Cha]

71. :)

[George II]

72. Welcome back, dear!

[Cha]

80. Nice to be

here.. reporting for duty!

[Cha]

14. Like UnitedFightBack

posted..

"Nobody is asking him to apologize for writing a best selling book - that is an offense to our intelligence."

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1287&pid=70234

[Power 2 the People]

33. Nahh. It's good to hear some straight talk from a candidate. It's the only way we beat Trump.

[UniteFightBack]

5. Well from the clip I saw when Bret asked it he said get rump up here and asked him how much in taxes

he paid. So that wasn't a good answer.

Nobody is asking him to apologize for writing a best selling book - that is an offense to our intelligence.

Just don't go around saying you are a socialist when YOU'RE NOT. NONE OF US ARE...and none of us want to be.
So just STOP IT BERNIE!

Bernie is not keeping it real here...PERIOD.

[Cha]

10. "Nobody is asking him to apologize for writing a best selling book - that is an offense to our

intelligence."

Exactly, UnitedWeBack.. what political point did he think he was scoring with that statement?

[sheshe2]

16. So his response was what about trump?

Well from the clip I saw when Bret asked it he said get rump up here and asked him how much in taxes

[UniteFightBack]

18. Yes. nt

[sheshe2]

19. Thanks, nt

[Power 2 the People]

35. The United States is a mixed economy. That means it has socialistic and capitalistic aspects.

Just like Bernie Sanders,if you live in the United States you are participating in socialism and capitalism simultaneously.

[BannonsLiver]

12. "Newfound"

[Nanjeanne]

13. He said he was for paying higher taxes as a tax on higher incomes. That would

include himself of course.

Bret asked him why he doesn’t pay extra if he wants to. Bernie said he paid what was owed. Of course he did and asking him to pay over for the hell of it is stupid. We need a tax policy that makes sense. Not arbitrary people paying “more” than they owe.

Bernie said he didn’t think his wealth was proof of the American dream because he recognizes that he is a college graduate who has been a member of Congress for a number of years and wrote a best selling book. He said he wants the same opportunity for all. That is the American Dream.

[UniteFightBack]

20. When was the part when he was asked to pay higher taxes by Bret and he said you get

rump up here and ask him how much taxes he paid. End of clip.

[Cha]

22. WHATABOUTrump. Weak response.

[Nanjeanne]

25. If I remember correctly it was during that whole segment. I watched the whole town hall so

I don’t remember exactly. There was a whole segment on his tax returns and his tax policy - even where the blonde bimbo (can’t remember her name) asked him about his tax policy about wealthy paying 70% and insisting it was his policy, not AOC. You might want to watch the whole thing to form an opinion rather than an edited clip.

[UniteFightBack]

26. I'm sorry I can't watch the whole thing but those clips can be damaging because he did if fact say

that. I was really surprised that after all this time he does not have better answers crafted..I MEAN COME ON.

[Nanjeanne]

31. Well actually he answered quite well. But since you can't watch the actual answer ... it's

really silly to discuss.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

43. Thought Bernie's answer was exceptional... and well received.

Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[Blue_true]

24. So Bernie said the same thing republicans have said, they paid what was owed.

Him and his wife had over $500k in income and gave $18,000 to charity, that is like 3%. I know people making $100,000 that give $6,000-$7,000 annually.

[Nanjeanne]

28. He said what I'm sure every R and D say. Can you tell me which Democrats pay an extra $ for

the helluvit? He said he wants to change tax policy so wealthy pay more taxes.

One would think that makes sense. How much extra should he pay? Can he say here’s another $10,000. Can you please fix some bridges?

[TwilightZone]

34. Actually, you can indeed donate to the treasury.

You just can't earmark your funds.

https://fiscal.treasury.gov/public/gifts-to-government.html

[Blue_true]

39. Like I pointed out.

Some people pay more by giving to charities, then they can earmark the funds (i.e., feeding hungry babies instead of putting hungry babies in cages, paying for education for poor children instead of war). Bernie sets himself off as some great oracle for the downtrodden, yet his own personal charitable giving in miserly.

[Blue_true]

36. Some people "pay" more by giving more to charity.

Bernie and his wife gave around 3%, I know people that give 6-10%.

[Nanjeanne]

41. That's lovely. Glad you know generous people. Bezos gives less than 1% to charity. Charity

is important but even more is government policy that provides safety nets for citizens. People do what they feel they can do. I can’t judge what people’s expenses are or how they choose to donate. I can choose public policy for what my vision of the country should be.

[Blue_true]

44. Bernie's returns show that he is a miserly giver.

Has Bezos posted his tax returns? Can you provide the source of your claim about Bezos? You don't need a link, I am ok with a valid recollection of what you may have come across about how much Bezos gives to charity.

Lastly, Bezos does not go around lecturing rich people on their societal obligations vis a vis money, Bernie does seem to.

[Cha]

67. Thank you for that, Blue_true!

[sheshe2]

49. My understanding is the charities were not listed on the returns.

I thought they had to be. Am I wrong here?

[Blue_true]

50. They summarized by saying they made something like $500,000-$600,000

last year and gave $18,600 to charity, that is like 3-4%, a pretty low amount.

[sheshe2]

59. Yes.

That is very low.

Thanks Blue_true.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

30. Nailed it!!

Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[Trenzalore]

23. Colonel Sanders peaked later in life

At least he gave us delicious chicken.

[vsrazdem]

37. He said his is not an example of capitalism because he has a college education, was a congressman

and a senator, which most American people do not have the advantage of being. They do not have the advantage of capitalizing on their fame to achieve that fortune.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

45. Another great answer by Bernie... he was on his game the entire night!!

VERY proud of Bernie... especially the way he walked into the Faux News "lions den" and slayed the savage beasts!! Bernie showing, once again, unlike some candidates, he has no fear of answering anyone's questions.


Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[Baclava]

46. Politics done all right by ya bern, picked up a couple vacation houses along the way too

[Blue_true]

54. With the boat discreetly anchored in the lake.

Not exactly a Bushie cigar boat though, at least not from high up.

[Blue_true]

55. Feel the Bern! nt

[ecstatic]

47. His entire career is proof of the "American dream"

He literally had nothing and no real options before running for congress. It's silly for him not to acknowledge that.

[Blue_true]

56. He was a relatively popular mayor.

But before becoming mayor he was pretty destitute.

He seems to fail to acknowledge that he has lived a charmed life that 75% of Americans don't come close to living.

[Cha]

68. +1

[BlueFlorida]

77. Best sit-down comedy